News / lockleaze
200 new trees planted on Muller Road recreation ground
A tree planting event on Sunday saw more than 200 native trees planted at the Muller Road recreation ground in Horfield.
The event, organised by Really Wild Lockleaze, welcomed over 30 volunteers who turned up to plant the new native woodland on the slopes of the recreation ground. The project aims to plant 1,000 trees across Lockleaze and neighbouring green spaces this year.
Eleanor Fairbraida, project co-ordinator of the Really Wild Project says that local residents and families from the local schools turned out to help plant the woodland. “People really value the chance to plant a tree, in a place where they can come back and see them grow,” she told Bristol24/7.
is needed now More than ever
Eleanor says that Muller Road recreation ground was selected as one of the few places available to plant native woodland in the neighbourhood.
“The council’s tree planting project, One Tree Per Child, had previously highlighted the recreation ground as being one that had been earmarked for tree planting, but they currently had no plans to do it,” she says, adding that the consultation with local residents helped define the number of trees planted and their location, specifically to ensure sledging was still possible on the slopes in the winter.
Over 30 volunteers, including families from Trinity Academy, turned up to plant the new native woodland on the slopes of the Muller Road recreation ground in Horfield
The West of England has just 7.8 per cent woodland cover, compared to a 13.2 per cent average across the UK. The Woodland Trust also reports that neighbourhoods with the highest income levels have more than double the tree cover per person than less affluent neighbourhoods.
Both of these challenges are something tree planting projects groups like Really Wild Lockleaze are aiming to tackle.
Eleanor says that planting native trees supports wildlife, creates wildlife corridors and helps address the climate and ecological crisis.
“Everyone wants to do their bit to help nature and the climate,” she continues.
“The mood by the end was almost euphoric – people really enjoyed getting outside, getting some exercise and doing good for the world with other people.”
So far, the project and its volunteers has planted over 580 trees in 2024 – 147 trees on three residential greens and 233 at the Lockleaze Sports Centre, with further planting planned at the sports centre and within the Stoke Park Estate this coming Sunday.
“People really value the chance to plant a tree, in a place where they can come back and see them grow,” says Eleanor Fairbraida
Really Wild Lockleaze, is supporting residents to make more space for nature in the gardens and public spaces across Lockleaze. The project is part of the wider Bristol Community Climate Action project across Bristol, led by Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, which aims to show what urban communities can do to respond to the climate and ecological emergencies.
If you live in Lockleaze and want to get involved in tree planting projects, contact Eleanor at reallywild@lockleazent.co.uk
Are you a Lockleaze resident? Do you want a free native tree for your garden? Get in touch with the Really Wild Lockleaze Project ASAP – first come first served.
Emily Shimell is reporting on Lockleaze as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media.
All photos: Eleanor Fairbraida
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